Vytautas Bacevičius: Piano Music, Volume One
The Lithuanian pianist and composer Vytautas Bacevičius (1905-70) is one of the undiscovered pioneers of twentieth-century music. His series of seven Mots ('Words') for keyboard — five for solo piano, one for organ and one for two pianos — were written between 1933 and 1966 and show the evolution of his musical language from the post-Skryabin style of the early works, via the influence of Prokofiev and Stravinsky, to a highly individual modernism, akin to that of two fellow radicals, Varése and Wolpe.
Gabrielius Alekna, piano
Matthew Lewis, organ
Ursula Oppens, piano
Listen To This Recording:
- Premier Mot, Op. 18 (1933)
- Deuxième Mot, Op. 21 (1934)
- Troisième Mot, Op. 37 (1935)
- Quatrième Mot, Op. 31 (1938)
- Cinquième Mot, Op. 59 (1956)
- Sixième Mot, Op. 72 (1963)
- I. Allegro moderato
- II. Larghetto misterioso
- III. Allegro con fuoco
Septième Mot, Op. 73 (1966)
Fanfare Magazine :
‘An impressive release all around, and a perfect demonstration of the good work Toccata Classics is doing in giving voice to under-appreciated composers.’
—Gavin Dixon, Fanfare Magazine
WRUV Reviews :
‘…Abstract, strong, interesting.’
—Laima, WRUV Reviews
MusicWeb International :
‘The performers on this disc show that they have come to respect this neglected composer and have done him sterling service in the process. Toccata are to be congratulated for championing this composer and others should follow suit.’
—Steve Arloff, MusicWeb International
International Record Review :
‘Each time I receive a Toccata Classics disc to review, I am newly grateful. This is not only for the label’s (and founder Martin Anderson’s) adventurousness but also for its ability to attract prime performers, and to commission booklet notes that really assist the listener in understanding and appreciating the music that they accompany. On all those grounds, the present release does not disappoint […] This is the first recording of Bacevičius’s complete Mots. Apparently only three of the seven (the first, sixth and seventh) have been recorded previously – and good luck finding those recordings! In fact, the only other CD devoted to Bacevičius’s music also comes from Toccata Classics – an orchestral disc which was reviewed in October 2007 […] the sound is surprisingly clean. (The piano works also enjoy clean, detailed sound.)’
—Raymond S. Tuttle, International Record Review May 2012